Marinera Festival / Virgen de la Candelaria / Crosses of Porcon /
Señor de Muruhuay / Inti Raymi / Q'oyllur Riti / Peruvian Paso Horse Festival / Virgen de Chapi / Corpus Christi / San Juan / Virgen del Carmen /
Santa Rosa de Lima / Chalpón Cross /Señor Cautivo de Ayabaca /
The Lord of the Miracles / Señor de Luren /
All Saints Day and Day of the Dead / Immaculate Conception

The Mansiche Arena in Trujillo is the stage for the National Marinera Contest, the most elegant by couples dance in Peru. Different categories and choreographic styles are judged. Both dancers swirl while waving a white kerchief and executing a number of characteristic steps. The made dancer wears a poncho and a hat, and if riding horse back, he does so on a Peruvian Paso horse. His lady wears a beautiful typical regional dress.

Useful Information:
Location: city of Trujillo (34 masl / 112 fasl).
Climate: mild and warm.
Average temperature: 19ºC (66ºF).

How to get there
By plane: daily flights from Lima to Trujillo (1 h).
By road: 560 km / 348 miles (8 h) from Lima through the North pan-American Highway.

On the central day, the Virgin parades the city in a colorful procession, followed by more than 200 bands of musicians and a similar number of groups who dance around the city and compete for prizes in the local stadium. The festivity is related to the pre-Hispanic farming cycles of planting and harvesting (worshipping Pachamama or Mother Earth), as well as with the region’s mining activity.

Useful information:
Climate: dry and cold.
Average temperature: 10ºC (50ºF). During 18 days the city of Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, becomes the folklore capital of the Americas.

How to get there
By plane: from Lima and Arequipa to Juliaca (Puno).
By train: Cusco - Puno train (10 h).
By road: from Cusco, Arequipa and Lima.

In this festivity, immense reed and palm crosses parade the Porcón valley. They are all decorated with oval and round mirrors (representing the souls of the dead) and with images of Virgin Mary, the Sacred Heart and several saints. On Palm Sunday, the central day, crosses are crowned, prayers are sung in Quechua and Latin, and people march in procession to church. During the procession, “angels” haul the “señorca”, a female donkey representing the triumphal entrance of Jesus in Jerusalem.

By road: Granja Porcón, 30 km / 19 miles (55 min) from Cajamarca
By the road to Bambamarca, take detour at km 20.

Useful information:
Climate: dry and mild.
Average temperature: 14°C (57°F).

The contest takes place in Mamacona, at the foot of the pre-Inca Pachacamac oracle. The Peruvian Paso horse is a breed of Spanish and Berber races that took 300 years. Its gait is a series of synchronized movements of the front and rear legs in parallel fashion, a trait that has made it one of the most beautiful and elegant horses in the world.

Useful information:
Location: Mamacona, district of Pachacámac (75 masl / 246 fasl).
Climate: humid and warm.
Average temperature: 19ºC (66ºF)

How to get there
By road: Pachacámac, 30 km / 19 miles south of Lima, in the detour to Lurín, south highway.

The image of the Crucified Lord, painted on the skirts of the Shalacoto hill, is worshipped on this date by thousands of pilgrims. Some old rites to worship water, earth and rocks have survived in this celebration. On the central day a solemn Mass is celebrated in Quechua and then the believers drop their “Letter to God”, requesting miracles or thanking favors granted. The organizers usually offer a typical lunch to visitors and dancers. 

Useful information:
Location: Shalacoto hill (2959 masl / 9708 fasl), Acobamba,
12 km from Tarma.
Climate: mild.
Average temperature: 14ºC (57ºF).

How to get there
By road: by the Central Highway following the Lima - Ticlio - Huancayo route (310 km / 193 miles), in 5:30 h.

Pilgrimage crossing the Arequipa desert to worship the Virgin of Purification or Virgin of Chapi. The pilgrims carry rocks of different sizes they will leave before Chapi, making the so-called apachetas, symbolizing the devout’s sins. In a night-long wake, the image of the miraculous Virgin is surrounded by candles to then leave in procession. There are also fireworks and typical foods.

Useful information:
Location: Chapi (2420 masl / 7940 fasl).
Climate: dry and semi-cold.
Average temperature: 14°C (57°F).  

How to get there
By road: Chapi, 76 km / 47 miles southeast of Arequipa. There is bus access, but some pilgrims prefer to go on foot (1 hour walk approx.)

Inti Raymi is the Sun’s festivity. It coincides with the winter solstice and the harvests season. The Sacsayhuaman fortress is the stage for the ceremony, following a detailed script, including the sacrifice of two llamas to tell the future. The Inca, who urges the authorities in Cusco’s main square to govern well, presides over the ceremony. At dusk, the Inca announces the end of the day’s ceremonies and merry-making starts.

Useful information:
Location: Sacsayhuaman (3600 masl / 11811 fasl) esplanade 2 km / 1 mile from Cusco city
Climate: cold and dry.
Average temperature: 12ºC (54ºF).

How to get there
By plane: daily flights Lima - Cusco (1 h).
By road: Lima - Cusco (through Arequipa), 1650 km / 1025 miles (24 h).

The largest pilgrimage of all indigenous nations of the Americas. More than 10 thousand people arrive in Sinakara, at the foot of the Ausangate mountain (6362 masl / 20873 fasl), to pay homage to a painting of Child Jesus. The ascent of a group of strong Queros to the snow-capped summit to seek the Star of the Snow (Qoyllur Rit’i) in the mountain’s heart is full of symbolism. They will take large blocks of ice on their shoulders back to their Quechua communities to water their lands with sacred water.

Useful information:
Location: Sinakara (4700 masl / 15420 fasl), district of Ocongate,province of Quispicanchis.
Climate: cold and dry.
Average temperature: 02°C (36°F).

How to get there
By plane: daily flights Lima - Cusco (1 h).
By road: Lima - Cusco (through Arequipa), 1650 km / 1025 miles (24 h).

Fifteen saints and virgins from different Cusco districts arrive at the cathedral in procession to salute Christ’s body in the form of a consecrated wafer kept in the fabulous 26-kg massif gold custody. During the night wake, typical dishes, such as chiriuchu (guinea pig and hot peppers), chicha and corn bread, are served. As soon as the sun rises, the parade starts around the main square, and then the images enter the cathedral to salute each other. Finally, the delegations go back to their churches in the midst of songs and prayers.

Useful information:
Location: city of Cusco (3400 masl / 11155 fasl).
Climate: cold and dry.
Average temperature: 12ºC (54ºF).

How to get there
By plane: daily flights Lima - Cusco (1 h).
By road: Lima - Cusco (through Arequipa), 1650 km / 1025 miles (24 h).

The most important festivity of the Amazon symbolizes the renewal of faith under the figure of Saint John the Baptist and the power of water, a vital element in the entire Amazon region. This is why, in Iquitos and Pucallpa (Yarinacocha), the people get purified in the waters of rivers or lakes. On this date, there are also music festivals and typical dances, produce and crafts fairs, and typical dishes, such as the famous juanes (rice tamales) representing the Saint’s head.

Useful information:
Location: Iquitos (104 masl / 341 fasl) and Pucallpa (154 masl / 505 fasl).
Climate: tropical.
Average temperature: 24°C (75ºF).

How to get there
By plane: daily flights from Lima to Iquitos and Pucallpa.

The Virgin of El Carmen or Mamacha Carmen, patroness of mixed-blood people, is worshipped in a colorful procession of her image along the village streets. Music and singing in Quechua, and groups representing passages of the history of Peru. On the central day, the Virgin blesses the attendants and casts off demons that perform risky acrobacies on roof tops. The grand finale, is a war against demons in which the faithful triumph.

Useful information:
Location: city of Paucartambo (2906 masl / 9534 fasl), at 150 km / 93 miles from Cusco.
Climate: cold.
Average temperature: 12°C (54°F).

how to get there
By plane: daily flights Lima - Cusco (1 h).
By road: Lima - Cusco (through Arequipa), 1650 km / 1025 miles (24 h).
From Cusco to Paucartambo (through San Salvador and Huancarani) 109 km / 68 miles (4h).

Saint Rose of Lima is the name that made Isabel Flores de Oliva famous. She was a pious Lima woman of the XVII century with great religious inclination and given to serving the sick. The Vatican named her Patroness of the Americas and the Philippines.
Her sanctuary in downtown Lima is visited by the faithful asking for a miracle. On this date, visitors to the hermitage she built is visited and drop letters into the well where she dropped the key to her cilice.

Useful information:
Location: downtown Lima (154 masl / 505 fasl).
Climate: humid and semi-warm.
Average temperature: 19ºC (66ºF).  

How to get there
Sanctuary in downtown Lima, Tacna Ave., block 1.

This devotion started in the XVII century when a miracle-making wooden cross, saved the town from imminent flooding. Ever since, the spot is a pilgrimage center for thousands of believers who arrive to thank for favors granted. There is a Peruvian Paso horse show on this date too, as well as musical band contests and typical food tasting.

Useful information:
Location: Motupe (29 masl / 95 fasl). 90 km / 56 miles from Chiclayo.
Climate: warm.
Average temperature: 21ºC (70ºF).

How to get there
By plane: Lima - Chiclayo (1 h).By road: Lima - Chiclayo770 km / 478 miles (12 h), along the North Pan-American Highway.

Thousands of pilgrims from the north of Peru and the south of Ecuador arrive in Ayabaca to keep their promise of faithfulness to the Captive Christ. Town streets are covered with flower petals and there is a procession of the image -carved in 1751- and the penitents. In pre-Hispanic times the same place was the stage for homage paid to Aypate and La Huaca.

Useful information:
Location: city of Ayabaca (2700 masl / 8858 fasl).
Climate: partially clouded and chilly at night.
Average temperature: 13°C (55°F).

How to get there
By road: Ayabaca, 211 km / 131 miles al northeast of Piura.

This image gathers around it the largest numberts of devotees in South America. It dates back to colonial times, when a black slave painted it on the walls of a run-down property. In spite of earthquakes and attempts at erasing it, the miraculous image has remained intact. Thousands of believers dressed in purple habits sing and pray to accompany the image in procession. It is a date to enjoy “turrón de Doña Pepa” (a nougat) and delicious “picarones” (ring-shaped fritters). To honor the Black Christ, bull fighting at Plaza de Acho, gathers the most prestigious bullfighters of Spain and the Americas.

Useful information:
Location: downtown Lima (154 masl / 505 fasl).
Climate: humid and warm.
Average temperature: 19ºC (66ºF).

How to get there
Processions in downtown Lima.
Plaza de Acho: Rímac district.

The origin of devotion for the Lord of Luren, patron of the city of Ica, dates back to 1570, when it was mysteriously lost in the desert to reappear in a desolate place called Luren, where a small temple and a hospital for Indians were built. On the central day, the wooden image of Christ in agony, accompanied by the Virgin Mary and Magdalene, leaves in procession to parade the entire city all night until dawn.

Useful information:
Location: city of Ica (406 masl / 1332 fasl).
Climate: warm.
Average temperature: 19ºC (66ºF).

How to get there
By road: Ica is 300 km / 186 miles (4 h) south of Lima,
By the South Pan-American Highway.

In Cajamarca and the Porcón and Huambocancha villages, the people visit cemeteries carrying paper flower crowns for their dead and clean the tombstones under which they are buried. Then they share food and drinks with their souls. This rite is the continuation of a pre-Hispanic practice combined with Christian elements.
In La Arena (Piura), the people go to the Main Square taking their children dressed in their best clothes. Those who have lost a child give children who resemble their own some sweets and rolls in bags called "little angels". At night, families hold a wake at the cemetery, lit with candles until dawn.

Useful information:
Location: Granja Porcón (Cajamarca, 2720 masl / 8924 fasl) and La Arena (Piura, 29 masl / 95 fasl).
Climate: in Porcón, dry and mild; warm in La Arena.
Average temperature: Porcón 14°C (57°F); Piura, 24°C (75ºF).

how to get there
By road: Granja Porcón, 30 km / 19 miles (55 min) from Cajamarca by the road to Bambamarca. La Arena, city of Piura, 978 km / 608 miles north of Lima).

On the central day (day 8), in a colorful dance after the procession, men dressed in women’s clothes approach women and abduct them. This is a good time to visit the 16 baroque churches of the ColcaValley, its hot springs (La Calera), and the beautiful terraces of one of the deepest canyons in the world, and to see the marvelous flight of condors. (See Health and Mysticism and Adventure Sports).
Useful information:
Location: city of Chivay (3633 masl / 11919 fasl), province of Caylloma.
Climate: semi-cold and rainy from October to March.
Average temperature: 10ºC (50ºF).

how to get there
By road: Chivay is 164 km / 102 miles north of Arequipa (3:30 h).